The promises I made… on behalf of Buhari

I’m trying hard not to get carried away with the frenzy of celebrations. I still am not awake to the reality that we were able to do the unthinkable (even though I was probably the first to announce to the world President Buhari, this time last week when the result hadn’t even come out. I knew who my president was), for which we were pilloried and tarred, branded all sorts of names and hung out to dry. I will yet come around to the reality, and possibly break down in tears. For we were at war. And on the warfront, I saw many fall, some to the bullets that flew and zinged past my ears; some to the heavy bombs of ethnic, personal and religious campaign of calumny that were the ammunition of the other side, yet others to the allure of money. I came away from that warfront, with a broken heart, some deep bullet wounds, represented in lost businesses, occasional fear for my future, and perhaps a handful of vengeful enemies. Thankfully, they are unable to do much; for the destiny of man, is but in the hands of the Almighty. I also came off with an unbowed head and a more resilient and even joyous spirit, given the acheivement.

Some swore that the status quo ante had been branded on Nigeria’s soul. I saw brothers betray brothers, displaying their innermost reasoning. They drew the dagger… and stabbed. Blood spurted sky high, momentarily painting the skies in crimson. It was the season of anomie. Mama Peace had become a god. Everyone worshiped at her feet. If you wanted to be anything, you had to reckon with her, or you worshiped any of the rest, who helped themselves wantonly and carelessly, to the wealth of a hapless nation. I was naïve. I didn’t know on time. When I knew it was already late. I kept wondering who owned all the properties around me. Who was that, that just erected a shopping mall under three months? How do they make their money? How were those buying private jets and traveling first class like there’s no tomorrow? And all those properties, from London to Australia?What businesses do they do? I worked so hard. Basically got by, and kept my promises to the Nigerians (and foreigners) I had employed. My honesty, my faith in humanity, amounted to little. But I kept the faith.

I found myself at the very warfront as some sort of officer who led from the front(especially on social media). I naturally floated to the top, because I was naïve. And because when I believed, I believed totally. Many had drawn back, fearing to tread in some places lest they would hit the radar. But each morning, in spite of public and private warnings, lost friends and open threats, I found some thing or the other, that was wrong about this country and needed scrutiny. I picked my laptop and wrote. I critiqued, I suggested, I begged, I cajoled, I educated, I enthused, I pushed my position. People noticed. Some understood. I realized there were a handful who waited to hear what I had to say each morning, as if I were some oracle. I am but a shy guy, afraid of disappointing the ones I love. But others waited, and took notice; for the wrong reasons. The plotted. I knew. So I tried to do so many things at once just so as to scatter the trail. No, they cannot catch me. Yes, I may struggle, but one day, it shall be well. In the midst of the melee, thanks to God, I built a profile, in the eyes of my compatriots, that money cannot buy. I try to be gentle on my opponents, but you cannot sway me over for the promise of personal gain. And I made promises... I promised the naysayers and doubters, and fence-sitters, and the believers in status-quo ante, and those who developed a dark mindset; that type that believes that this life is for dogs who eat other dogs, those who were shorn of a sense of social justice, who shed no tear for the suffering and disease in the land, those who care not who drops dead so long as they sleep on beds studded with glimmering diamonds, yes I told them, that I was on a just cause. I begged them, that they should give Nigeria a chance; a new lease of life.

I promised them, that all shall be well; that Buhari does not signify, contrary to their inexplicable mindsets, a religious tribulation for them. I said there was no way they will be converted forcefully into Islam; that it hadn’t happened anywhere in the world and will not happen in Nigeria. I promised them that Boko Haram will be curbed, for it was our intelligence that was compromised, and not inadequate weapons. It was sincerity that was lacking. I told them that I believed that with cooperation we would solve that problem, and that every inch of Nigerian soil can be covered and policed, by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

I promised more. I promised that Buhariwill curb the irritating excesses that is called governance in Nigeria today. That the good man will end the idea of using the commonwealth to feather a few people’s nests , making them super comfortable at the expense of the vast majority. They asked me about Tinubu. I told them Tinubu being the strategist he is, will not be meddling in Buhari’s governance. I assured them Buhariwill be serious about anticorruption as he has indicated early by the commitment to open declaration of assets for himself and all his lieutenants.

I promised them, that Buhari will take on board, propeople policies that will lead to employment for most job-seeking Nigerians, especially secondary school leavers. I promised that I will ensure the good General gets my own ideas firsthand. If he asks me to serve in whatever capacity, I will try. If he doesn’t, I will move on and assist in other ways. I promised that the government will not fail them. I promised that the Buhari government will define a new vista for Nigeria, like nothing we’ve seen in the past. I was vehement, that a Buhari government is what we need at this moment, to help reposition every Nigerian in the comity of nations. I promised, that with concerted efforts, every Nigerian in a short while, will be able to hold their head high anywhere they go, as we shall stop being labeled as criminals until proven innocent.

I promised them that sweeping changes will happen. That the civil service will be repositioned, that communication from the government will be 100%, that our lost values of discipline, orderliness, cleanliness, modesty, consideration for others, altruism, honesty, timeliness, contentment, charity, chastity, loyalty, and everything that is good, will be brought back through a systematic process of reorientation that will form a major policy plank of the incoming government. I promised them that I will ensure the government adopts the only viable policy we could likely have - an empowerment of the youth by the provision of millions of jobs that target that segment of our productive human capital. I promised them, that when all this is done, the world will notice.

I promised them, that the Buhari I know - even though I’ve only met him once at a function, will surely bring back our public schools, rejuvenate them, so that we the people stop being slaves to capitalist owners of private schools, and so that corruption may be curbed.

I feel happy, that my promises will be fulfilled. Congratulations President MuhammaduBuhari.

I promised them that sweeping changes will happen. That the civil service will be repositioned, that communication from the government will

be 100%